Strip for forming floor coverings

ABSTRACT

A strip for forming floor coverings, the strip being constructed in such a manner as to present an upwardly facing flat surface lying in a first horizontal plane and a downwardly facing structurally flat surface lying in a second horizontal plane, the strip being provided along at least two opposing edges with tongue and groove coupling elements formed integrally with the strip and cooperating with each other, the tongue and the groove present a plane of symmetry substantially inclined to the horizontal plane.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a strip for forming floor coverings.

Fitting together a plurality of square or rectangular strips or planks produces wood floor coverings.

These square or rectangular strip or plank elements can be applied by various methods.

According to a first method, the strips are attached to the underlying floor by glue or are nailed directly onto it. This system has the drawback of being fairly complicated and that subsequent changes can be made only by breaking the strips.

According to another method, the strips are rested freely on the floor and are coupled together by tongues and grooves secured to each other by glue.

The floor obtained in this manner, also known as a floating floor, presents the advantage of simple installation and of allowing slight floor movement to accommodate possible expansion or shrinkage.

This system has, however, the drawback that following expansion or shrinkage, undesirable gaps can form between adjacent pieces if, for example, the glue connections break.

One object of the invention is to eliminate these drawbacks by providing a strip, which enables floor coverings to be formed in a simple and comfortable manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strip, which enables coverings to be formed in which the gap problem is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strip for forming floor coverings in which the entry of dirt and moisture is prevented.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

All these and further objects, which will be apparent from the ensuing description, are attained according to the invention by a strip for forming floor coverings, the strip being constructed in such a manner as to present an upwardly facing flat surface lying in a first horizontal plane and a downwardly facing structurally flat surface lying in a second horizontal plane. The strips are provided along at least two opposing edges with substantially tongue and groove coupling elements formed integrally with the strip and cooperating with each other, wherein the tongue and the groove present a plane of symmetry substantially inclined to the horizontal plane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a strip for forming the covering of the invention; and

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sections through two strips while being applied to form the floor covering.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen from the figures, the strip 2 for forming the floor covering is of substantially rectangular shape, but could also be square.

The surfaces of the minor sides 4 of each strip are substantially perpendicular to the horizontal surfaces 6. The surfaces of the major sides 8 of each strip are provided with elements for its coupling to the adjacent strip.

Specifically, a longitudinal surface of the strip presents a first vertical portion 10 which extends into a portion 12 inclined outwards by an angle greater than 60° to the vertical portion 10 to form a tongue 14 and then bends into an inclined portion 16 forming an angle of 90° to the longitudinal axis of the tongue, to then join a further vertical portion 18 which forms the lower part of the longitudinal surface.

The other longitudinal surface presents a first vertical portion 20 the height of which corresponds substantially to the height of the first vertical portion 10 and then bends towards the interior of the strip to form a groove 22 the height of which corresponds to the width of the tongue 14 and has a depth greater than the length of the tongue 14.

The groove 22 extends into an inclined portion 24 disposed parallel to the inclined portion 16 of the first edge and into a second vertical portion 26 the height of which corresponds to the vertical height of the portion 18 of the first edge.

To form the floor with the strip of the invention, the procedure is as follows: a first row of strips is secured to the floor so that they lie in mutual contact along their surfaces 4. A second row of strips is then applied along their longitudinal surfaces by inserting the tongues 14 into the corresponding grooves 22.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the strip of the present invention presents numerous advantages, and in particular:

-   -   it enables the strips to be fixed together without using glue or         screws,     -   it enables a strip to be easily and rapidly replaced if damaged,         without having to break the adjacent strips,     -   it enables floors to be formed in which gap problems are         eliminated and in which dirt and moisture cannot enter, as the         vertical pressure exerted during walking is transformed into a         horizontal thrust which tends to maintain the strips in mutual         contact.     -   it is self-levelling. 

1. A strip for forming floor coverings, said strip being constructed in such a manner as to present an upwardly facing flat surface lying in a first horizontal plane and a downwardly facing structurally flat surface lying in a second horizontal plane, said strip being provided along at least two opposing edges with tongue and groove coupling elements formed integrally with said strip and cooperating with each other, characterised in that said tongue and said groove present a plane of symmetry substantially inclined to the horizontal plane.
 2. The strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plane of symmetry of the tongue and groove is disposed at 45° to the horizontal plane. 